Spray gun



- INVENTOR. .467m a yz Sm z A W Y 792g alza@ Dec. 30, 1952 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRAY GUN Norman Smith, Fort Myers, Fla.

Application April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,939

9 Claims.

This invention relates to spray guns and has special reference to a valve control for spray nozzles.

In the usual types of valve control for the nozzles of spray guns, some form of inilexible leverage is common. In one of such forms the gun has the general appearance of a pistol, and the trigger of the pistol effects opening of the nozzle valve when pulled and acts to permit clos ing of such valve when released. Another form, sometimes called a squeeze type, has a lever extending along one side of the gun in such position that upon the gun being gripped in a hand and the hand squeezed, the valve of the gun will open but upon relaxation of the hand the valve will close. Each of these forms is quite complicated and requires a number of linkage members to be interposed between the valve and a manual operating lever such as the trigger or squeeze lever above mentioned.

One important object of this invention is to provide a novel spray gun construction having a nozzle control operating means of improved and simplified character.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a Valve control for the nozzles of spray guns wherein such control will be free from any linkage or lever arrangement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel spray gun having a body which is itself compressible and wherein the spray nozzle control valve is actuated by the compression and expansion of said body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a spray gun, a hollow elastically deformable body the change of shape of which will control the operation of the nozzle controlling valve of the gun.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be presently apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly claimed.

in the drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a view taken diametrcally through this invention, the view being partly in section and partly in elevation;

Figure 2 is an end View of the invention taken from the left hand in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3MB of Figure 1.

In the embodiment of the invention as here shown, the hollow body I -of the spray gun is preferably formed of rubber of such hardness and elasticity as to maintain its shape unless laterally compressed and regain its shape after release from such compression. The body may also be formed of synthetic material or the like having like properties. The body Il) is of tubular spindle shape, and the wall of this body is thinner at the centrally disposed part of greatest diameter and gradually increases in thickness to each end portion. At one end portion of the body I0 there is provided an internal groove II wherein is tted the periphery of a washer I2. At the other end portion of the body is an internal groove I3 wherein is fitted the periphery of a washer I4. Extending through the washer I2 is an externally threaded sleeve I5 having a hexagonal head I6 formed on its outer end. The outer end of the sleeve is closed by a diaphragm I1 having a small spray opening I8. A cup-like depression I9 is formed in the outer face of the head I6 and surrounds the opening I3. Screwed on the sleeve I5 is a tubular housing 2G having at its inner end an internal ange 2I.

Extending through the washer I4 and fixed thereon and slidable through the flanged end. ZI is a supply tube 22 for the liquid to be sprayed. The outer end of the tube 22 is grooved as at 23 or otherwise adapted for connection to a suitable hose 24 shown by doftted lines and leading from a tank or the like (not shown). The end of the tube 22 adjacent the sleeve I5 is reduced. as at 26 and carries a piston or head 2l which fits in the sleeve I5. The reduced portion 26 is spaced from the inner wall of the sleeve to provide an annular 'channel or passage 28. Projecting from the head 2l is ya boss 29 forming a valve for controlling the opening I8, and this boss also spaces the head 2'I from the diaphragm I'I. One or more diagonal or spiral grooves 3i) are formed in the cylindrical surface of the head 2l and afford not only communication between the passage 28 With the space surrounding the valve boss 29 but cause, when the valve is open, a violent whirling lof the liquid in that spiace to effect breaking of the liquid into a multiplicity of ne drops. The tube 22 is closed at its reduced end but a lateral port 3| opens through the wall oi the reduced portion, thus affording communica tion between the interior of the tube and the passage 28. Surrounding the tube 22 near its reduced end is a groove wherein is tted a snap ring 32. Resting against the inner face oi the flange 2| and tting tightly in the housing 2E) and on the tube 22 is a packing box 33. A coiled compression spring 3@ surrounds the tube 22 within the housing 2B and bears at one end against the ring 32 and at its other end against the packing box 3". This spring is under surnoient tension to keep the valve 29 normally closed.

An opening 35 is provided in the washer Hi and through this opening extends a sleeve nut 3G having a head 31 on its outer end forming a nut rotating means and a stop for limiting the movement of the nut inwardly. A rod t8 has one end .welded to the housing 20 and its other end threaded and engaged in the nut 3o.

In order to permit flow of air out of and into the body I0 the washer I4 is also provided with a Vent port 39.

In the operation of this device it is to be ren membered that rubber, like a liquid, has the peculiar property of being bodily incompressible to any appreciable degree. That is to say, that if a rubber article is deformed by pressure in one direction it must expand in another direction, usually at right angles to the stress` line of the deforming pressure. Thus, in the present instance, a pressure exerted circumferentially about the central portion of the body lil wiil tend to increase the thickness of this part oi the body wall and thus will cause longitudinal expansion of the body. As previously described, o-ne end oi the body is closed except for a small central openling for the escape of spray. Secured to the other end of the body l0 is a supply tube carrying a valve normally closing this spray opening. Consequently, to open this valve it is merely necessary to grip the middle of the body in ornes hand and compress the same by squeezing, rhis wiil cause the valve 29 to move away from the diaphragm I1 leaving the opening I3 free for emission of iluid in a spray. Upon releasing the hand pressure the natural resilience of the body aided by the spring 34 will restore the ends of the body to normal position and seat the valve on the diaphragm.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as ciailned.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spray gun, an elongated tubular body of rubber-like material, said body being longitudinally extensible when circumferentialiy compressed, a pair of washers located one at either end of said body, a spray nozzle secured to one of said washers, a rigid huid supply tube secured to the other washer and extending through said washer into said body, a normally closed valvefor controlling the supply of fluid from said tube to said nozzle, one coaoting member of said valve being xed to said nozzle and another such member being xed to said tube, a housing sealed at its outer end to said nozzle and having its inner end surrounding said tube, and a stuiiingbox located between said housing inner end and said tube and permitting relative movement therebetween for confining the i'iow of fluid between said tube 'and said nozzle and keeping the fluid out of contact with said body, whereby neither the dimensions nor the compressibility oi said body are substantially affected by the uuid pressure and whereby said washers are supported at a normal longitudinal spacing corresponding to valve closure when the body is free and said washer spacing is increased to open. said valve when the body Vis compressed.

2. A spray gun as claimed in claim 1 in which said valve is normally held closed by a coil spring encircling said uid supply tube.

3. A spray gun as claimed in claim 1 in which said body is of spindle shape having its wall gradually increasing in thickness from its center toward each end.

4. In a spray gun, an elongated tubular body of rubber-like material, a closure at one end of the body having a spray opening therein, a second closure for the remaining end of the body, a valve within the body normally closing said spray opening, said rst mentioned closure including a sleeve extending into said body, a fluid supply tube extending through and fixed in said second closure, said tube having a reduced end entering said sleeve, said valve being iixed to said reduced end, and a head carried by said reduce end and iitting in said sleeve, said head being provided with peripheral grooves extending between its end faces.

5. In a spray gun, an elongated tubular body of rubber-like material, a closure at one end 'of the body having a spray opening therein, a second closure for the remaining end oi the body. a valve Within the body normally closing said spray opening, said iirst mentioned closure including a sleeve extending into said body, a duid supply tube extending through and iixed in said second closure, said tube having a reduced end entering said sleeve, said valve being i'lxed to said reduced end, a head carried by said reduced end and fitting in said sleeve, said head being provided with peripheral grooves extending between its end faces, and a housing surrounding a portion of said tube and fixed at one end to said sleeve and having an internal flange at its other end slidably engaging said tube, said tube having a lateral port opening into said housing.

S. In a spray gun, an elongated tubular body of rubber-like material, a closure at one end of the body having a spray opening therein, a second closure for the remaining end ci the body, a valve within the body normally closing said spray opening, said first mentioned closure including a sleeve extending into said body, a :duid supply tube extending through and xed in said second closure, said tube having a reduced end entering said sleeve, said valve being iixed to said reduced end, a head carried by said reduced end and tting in said sleeve, said head being provided With peripheral grooves extending between its end faces, a housing surrounding a portion of said tube and iixed at one end to said sleeve and having an internal ange at its other end slidably engaging said tube, said tube having a lateral port opening into said housing, a stuffing box iitted in said housing against said flange, a collar fixed on said tube and spaced from said box, and a compression spring surrounding said tube between said box and collar.

7. In a spray gun, an elongated tubular body of rubber-like material, said body being of spin dle shape and having its wall gradually increasing in thickness from its center toward each end, a closure at one end of the body having a spray opening therein, a second closure for the remaining end of the body, a valve within the body normally closing said spray opening, said rst mentioned ciosure including a sleeve extending into said body, a iiuid supply tube extending through and xed in said second closure, said tube having a reduced end entering said sleeve, said valve being iixed to said reduced end, and a head carried by said reduced end and fitting in said sleeve, said head being provided with peripheral grooves extending between its end faces.

8. In a spray gun, an elongated tubular body of rubber-like material, said body being of spindle shape and having its wall gradually increasing in thickness from its center toward each end, a closure at one end of the body having a spray opening therein, a second closure for the remaining end of the body, a valve within the body normally closing said spray opening, said first mentioned closure including a sleeve extending into said body, a fluid supply tube extending through and xed in said second closure, said tube having a reduced end entering said sleeve, said valve being fixed to said reduced end, a head carried by said reduced end and fitting in said sleeve, said head being provided with peripheral grooves extending between its end faces, and a housing sur-V rounding a portion of said tube and xed at one end to said sleeve and having an internal flange al its other end slidably engaging said tube, said tube having a lateral port opening into said housing.

9. In a spray gun, an elongated tubular body of rubber-like material, said body being of spindie shape and having its wall gradually increasing in thickness from its center toward each end, a closure at one end of the body having a spray opening therein, a second closure for the remaining end of the body, a valve within the body normally closing said spray opening, said first mentioned closure including a sleeve extending into said body, a fluid supply tube extending through and xed in said second closure, said tube having a reduced end entering said sleeve, said valve being xed to said reduced end, a head carried by said reduced end and iitting in said sleeve, said head being provided with peripheral grooves extending between its end faces, a housing surrounding a portion of said tube and fixed at one end to Said sleeve and having an internal flange at its other end slidably engaging said tube, said tube having a lateral port opening into said housing, a stuffing box fitted in said housing against said ange, a collar fixed on said tube and spaced from said box, and a compression spring surrounding said tube between said box and collar. NORMAN SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

